New Year's Day 2012

***Spent the day at my daughter's, sorting baby clothes, assembling a crib, making lists... I don't think she has a clue about the baby stuff and all that is involved.
***Preparing for her baby shower in 2 weeks. Lots to do. Sewing all the bedding for the crib, baking and making lists. Lots of lists. I live with a list, if I don't write it down... I forget! Must be the aging thing! haha...

GOODBYE 2011

New Years Eve. December 31, 2011. The husband and I are pretty boring. No celebrations to get dressed up for. In our Jammie's, we sit home and watch a movie, occasionally flipping the channel to see who is performing at one of the live parties. Most of the time, I fall asleep and he has to wake me up to watch the ball drop. I get a "Happy New Year" in and a kiss, and it's Goodnight Irene!

This has been a busy and exciting year. The daughter was married, our Grand-daughter was born, the Navy family reunion and the pending birth of our second Grand-son! Lot's of love in this family.

My son leaves for Army basic training in February. It makes me sad that he will be away from the family, but I am also excited for him. He is pursuing a long time desire. He has the "guts" to step up and go forward. This is impressive to me, something I couldn't do. Call me chicken... lack of "kahunas!" I wish you well Michael. Push for the stars! I am so proud of you!!!

To all of you, my friends and my family... I wish you a healthy, happy year ahead.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012.

I FOUND MY STYLE IN CANVAS

ALL I CAN SAY IS EEEE....X......I....T......E.....D...! I do believe I have found myself and my unique style! With that, I must go finish the last 2 canvases for my sale! You just have to wait a little longer for me to post some pics. Sorry!

"A GLIMPSE"

Wow, what a day! I started out with a visit to my daughter's OB appt. Bentley (yes, it's a boy!) is growing just fine! I even heard the little stinker's heart beat, when he would stay still. Next was breakfast at Cracker Barrel... have to feed this little guy... and Mommy!
Last, a quick trip to Hobby Lobby to pick up a snow flake die. Of course, once again, I waited to long to go back and get it. The lady in line (can you believe,in front of me!) had it in her basket. How dare she!! An urge came over me... I could yell, "Would ya look at that!"... grab the die and run the other way! That was the evil side of me (lol). Instead, I folded and told her, I was going to her house to play. After all, The Mind's Eye paper in her basket "was to die for" too!
I finished my second Christmas project today, an 8X8 Angel canvas. It came out completely different than what I had anticipated, but I am actually very pleased with the changes! It will be a class at Donna's studio in Dec. Watch her calender and upcoming events for more information! I think I'll tease you with a little glimpse...

(laughing) You really thought I was going to give you more??

Tomorrow... another day... a day to start my third, but not final, Christmas Whimsey!

STUDIO OVERHAUL AT LAST

Today I decided to put my studio back together, so it's functional again. It's been tore up since the wedding (April) and there is art stuff all over the house. I even took over the living room, which only started out as a one day online project with Amy. I'll be needing this space clear... company... well actually, members of our Navy family will be here for the long weekend! We are close. Some of the friends I mentioned in my last post. You know, the kind you pick up where you left off last. We, as in, us three wives, all had our first babies within three weeks of each other. Our husbands at sea for months at a time... we would put the kids to bed and watch TV together. That is, on the phone... for hours. It was a family, you depended on for support in everything. Most of our birth families were far away, so we couldn't depend on help from them. You made the best out of what you had, or you didn't survive.

Back to the studio. I am also going through all my supplies and purging. I have so many things that just sit here, not being used and probably never will be. I think I am going to donate some of it to my grandson's preschool and the rest to a friend's little girl. She is just starting out, crafting with her Momma. I think she will be thrilled! Besides, this weekend, is CKC. I'll need a little room for more stuff! (laughing)

FRIENDSHIP

It was a great day today. I went to lunch with a very dear friend. We had so much to catch up on! The kind of friendship, that time has no meaning. You just pick up where you left off. I have a few of those friendships and I cherish them. Life sometimes gets bogged down and finding a mutual time to visit is often difficult. You just make the best of the time you have together.

Love you Paula Waula!

WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE

These next 3 photos are collages I have done recently....prompted by DD's Collage Mondays.



On another note.....
I have mixed emotions today. I'm proud of my son, he has chosen to serve his country. I am also scared to death and quite a bit selfish. I don't want him to go. I want my kids and their families to stay close to home, where I can see them often, give them hugs, know they are safe......

My babies, all grown up... making such major decisions... I am feeling a little lost. I have no control... a feeling I do not like. I pray that I have God's grace to give me the strength I need... to let go. He is a grown man... but still my little boy. That little boy with blond hair and bright blue eyes... always grinning from ear to ear......

Today, I did another collage..... one prompted by a collage Amy did. I started with a black background and added layers of paint, paper, stamps and ink. It is white washed and distressed. "Fairy Land... Where dreams come true." My dream for Michael... to be safe and happy in his choices.

ME... A DESIGNER?

INSANITY!!!! Have you ever just had a moment... I mean a REALLY, good moment... like... the lights flickered, and you literally yelped? It starts like this...

I have never thought of myself as an Artist, just a crafter of many types. I've tried all kinds of things, some successful and others not. I have been building my base knowledge of ideas, techniques and abilities with workshops, tutorials and just experimenting. A couple weeks ago, Donna and Bill Downey approached me about designing for them. Of course I was flattered, but also, scared to death! What did I know about designing... let alone showing my art to a broader interest? I would be exposing myself, letting down the shield that I've been hiding behind. A mask, of sorts, that covered my face, so people could not see me grimise at my mistakes and failures. I've never been one to blow my whistle, I sat at the back of the class... (still do).

I thought it over and said, "Yes". What did I have to lose? Other than my sanity and my self-esteem. You see... I'm still scared. I've been questioning myself, second guessing. I sat for a three days, with fabrics, ribbons, paint and albums in front of me... NOTHING... N>O>T>H>I>N>G>.
I hadn't even started and I was already a wash-up! I surfed the internet, looked at magazines, took a trip to Ben Franklin. Oh, the goodness. All there in front of me, flaunting, begging me to play. I still needed a spark, something to send me in a whirlwind with ideas. I decided to walk away.

The fourth day, I still had no clue. I went to bed so tired that night, just wanting to shut down and sleep, but my brain had other ideas. It all came at once. A craft I used to love as a kid. I could incorporate that craft in my pieces. My signature! Then, other ideas... I was in overload! Had to write it all down or I would forget as fast as it came! That's when the lights flickered and I gave that yelp! I think John thought I had lost it!

So there you have it. I have given it more thought. Am going to try my very best to stop second guessing myself and just enjoy the creative process. I can't please everybody and there is always going to be someone who thinks my art is unacceptable. I have to do this for me and me only. It's better to have tried something and have it not work, than to ponder about what never happened.

just "STUFF"

I've been making stuff today...
just stuff...
stuff for "somebody"...
will share that stuff soon.
Just love secrets...
I'm pretty good at keeping them...
but I am excited about all this "STUFF"!
stuff... stuff... stuff...

Faber Castell Gelatos, I think I'm in love! They are so smooth and blend beautifully with water. I was playing with them on canvas today. Now I need to get to the real thing. A canvas messenger bag, I have saving for just the right medium. I think this is it. Now to put my brain to work and ponder (I do that best with music)...design...create...

Tomorrow I am in workshops all day at Donna's studio. Hopefully, I'll have a few things to share on Sunday... or Monday. Have a great weekend. I know I will!!!

MY HEAD IS SPINNING

Finally finished! Today I share a new look for my blog. I am soooo NOT computer savvy. It's the LONG way around for me to get it right. I think I had a gazillion windows open, filing info, cut, copy and paste... repeatedly! again and again and again.... you get my drift?

Having many new ideas and just "things" on my ever growing list is making my head spin! Hopefully soon, I'll be able to share some of them!

But first it's off to the dentist and a trip to the store for some new paintbrushes. If you read my Facebook post, you would say, "But you just bought new paintbrushes. 36 of them."
Yes, I did indeed.
36 of them.
That is 1 inch brushes.
Today I need artist brushes, different sizes for different purposes.
Kind of like a man with his wrenches...
types, sizes, different purposes...

Well, that's it for now. Time to get ready to go. Have a great day and thanks for visiting!

ANGELS ARE AMONG US

We spent the day with the daughter... our one and only... Lunch and a movie. Back home, John retreated to his office to play on the computer a little and started a new entry into my journal. I always start a written journal, but it fizzles out fast. This week, I decided to incorporate some of my art into it. Whatever I feel like, whether it be doodling, painting or trying something new. Today, nothing came to mind to write about, so I just started painting. End result; A rather perplexed, odd looking Angel.

DRAWING 101

Stepping out of my comfort zone... something I've never been comfortable with. I have always wished I could sit down, look at something and start sketching. Well, i stepped out... way out! I signed up to take a drawing workshop. I have been to 2 classes now. It was a little nerve wrecking, but our instructor was gentle. Nothing was overwhelming. We started with the basics... this is paper and this is a pencil. Well, not that basic! We did a few simple outline sketches and learned the difference between a contour sketch and a blind contour sketch.
***Simple outline sketch is as it sounds.....
***Contour sketch is the shape of the object you are drawing with detail.....
***Blind contour sketch is the outline and detail drawn while looking at the
object and NOT looking at the paper while sketching. This was not easy and
produced a lot of laughs!

Next... motion in sketching... the following is my completed sketch of motion. This was fun, all free-hand.





Day 2. Learning about value (light to dark) and the color spectrum. Pretty straight forward so far!




So there you have it. Out of my comfort zone. Now it's just practice, practice..... and I am looking forward to the next class!

THIS DAY...

This day...
is a happy day!
This day...
my second grandchild was born.
This day...
there was a miracle.
Her name is Ava Elizabeth.
She graced us with her presence on this day...
Thursday June 30, 2011 at 10:52 am.

A pink bundle of joy, this baby is.
8 pounds and 6 ounces.
19 and a half inches...
from the top of her little head...
to the bottom of her toes!

She will be loved by...
Mommy and Daddy...
and
Big brother, Grayson.

Ava...
my wish for you...
is to grow healthy and strong...
be independent, but know your family is here,
to support you whenever you need us.
Grow up to be kind, loving and honest.

I love you Ava...
my precious Grand-daughter.

XXX OOO
Nena.

JUST PLAIN FICKLED

I can't believe how the time is flying! It was YESTERDAY when I had 7 months to prepare for my daughter's wedding.... it's now 4 weeks from TOMORROW..... where did TODAY go????
Last week when I was finishing up the invitations, I realized I had the wrong date for RSVP's...... so...... I printed out new ones.... then.... I decided the cardstock was too dark.... off to get more cardstock! Ribbon was good, but the flowers needed to have more contrast..... so..... off to get new flowers! I thought I had made enough changes.... I THOUGHT.... well, then I remembered the new Hero Arts swirl stamp I had bought. Hmmmm, just maybe?.... PERFECT! So here's the final result........

You see.... I am fickle, as fickle as one can get. I don't tear things up and change them often, but I will if I need to. Why?..... because I can... and that's me.

A BORROWED PASSAGE

Today I borrow a passage from (I'm Just a Girl-Blog), written by Margy Romney-Aslett. I couldn't have said it any better.

Margie; "life keeps happening...

regardless of how we "think" is should go...

or how we want it to go...

i make plans...

write long to-do lists...

have big goals...

then i am reminded...

i am not really that in control of life...

some things yes..." (MR-A)



Margie; "life is crazy...

sometimes we are in charge...

sometimes we are brought to our knees...

reminded who's the boss..." (MR-A)

Some of the events in life, the last few weeks, have literally brought me to my knees a few times. I'm not looking for sympathy... just sayin and documenting... to remind me of how life can be knocked out of line, on such short notice.

I ask... "How much can a person take, when so much is taken from them". My daughter has faced sadness and loss, three times in the last month. This is suppose to be a happy and joyful time in her life... she is to be married in 5 weeks.

To my Baby Girl... I wish for you to lean on the people, who love you most... to draw strength and encouragement... to heal from within...
I love you,
Mom

DEFINITION / VALENTINE

a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day; "will you be my valentine?"

WOOF

Have you really ever stopped to think about a dog's daily life? Sleep, play, eat and poop! No worries, no work, no bills to pay. I think they have it made! If you threw me a cookie every now and then, I would sit or laydown. I'd even stay! (for another!) I would however, require to sleep in a warm cozy bed at night, wear boots and rain slicker when it's cold and request someone shovel a path in the snow, so I could pee in the grass. Just thinking.....

"TODAY'S RAMBLING"

Today...
- I slept in.
- I spent the day at home, by myself.
- I watched TV, all day.
- I read and responded to my emails.
- I talked to an old friend.
- I ate toast for supper.
- I enjoyed the quiet me time.
It has been good to be me today. (smiling)

FRIEND

Main Entry: FRIEND
Pronunciation: \ˈfrend\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English frend, from Old English frēond; akin to Old High German friunt friend, Old English frēon to love, frēo free
Date: before 12th century
1 a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b : acquaintance
2 a : one that is not hostile b : one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3 : one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4 : a favored companion


Friends are like the ingredients to a good cookie, just out of the oven.

Mix together; friends
- with kind hearts
- who give
- and share

Add warmth and create a bond.

If desired ; Frost with field trips and lunch dates.

I am thankful for this recipe. It's a great cookie!